Late 1600s - 1930s
Residential - Two semi-detached Dutch-style cottages built in the second half of the 17th century and arranged ‘end-on’ to the road, facing the passageway which originally formed a cut-through to the High Street. Photographs taken in the late 19th century show families living here in some poverty.

By the early 1930s the building has been condemned as unsafe and unfit for habitation. The ownership of the cottages and of the lane itself is with the Goddard family who have a cycle shop and motor garage at the High Street end of the passageway.

In 1932, Mrs Goddard offers the two historic cottages as a gift to the town on condition that they are developed as a local museum.

1932
Southwold Museum
A group of local enthusiasts, historians and town dignitaries come together specifically to create a museum for Southwold. They found the Southwold Archaeological and Natural History Society with the object of realising that goal. The Society's first task is to set up a trust to raise funds for renovation and then to see that through to completion.

To make it possible to use it as a museum it needs to be substantially rebuilt. This entails, among other things, gutting the interior, removing the first-floor structures, putting in a concrete ground floor and underpinning the front wall.

Most of the original roof timbers are retained and five oak tie beams fixed across the interior to strengthen the whole structure. The end result is a single-storey, light, airy room.

1933
The museum is opened by the Mayor, Mr E Pipeon 8th June 1933 under the curatorship of Dr D W Collings, FZS.

1959
An extension is added and dedicated to the memory of Dr. Collings.

1962
A further small extension is built to house the Southwold Railway exhibits.

In 1967, the Society purchases a two-storey carpenter's workshop, which was built in the 1950s at the bottom of the back yard. This is needed to provide storage and and to house the museum's archive and office.

Southwold Museum

Southwold Museum